Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-22
LEGISLATORS PIN MONEY
THEY DEAL LARGELY IN SOAP
AND TOWELS.

Their Preference for Robinson CrusOes
and Fairy Tales of Light Reading -
Congressmsn's Tastes in Wine - a
Committee That Did Not Use n Cake of
! Soap.
John B. Clark, Jr., Clerk OF the House
| Of Representatives, says Wednesdays
Baltimore American, made his annual re-
| port to-day OF expenditures for running
| the House from July, 1885, through the
! last session of Congress. There is much
| of interest in the report, although large
amount OF it is devoted to the ordinary
| expenses Of the House. Each member of
Congress Is allowed 1925 Tor stationery,
and he can draw on the Clerk tor any
Thing TO that amount. A larse number Of
! he memb ers only spend a small amount
OF their allowance. and lake the remain
der in cash. Not long since the report Of
the Secretary OF the Senate was Issued
/ and much interest was taken
in what they read and how
! they spent their money. Mutually, AS
! there are 80 many more members In the
House, they slould have a great variety
/ 0. tastes, ana tus clerks report shows
( some strange things ordered by he mem
/ beers. No one questions tDe right o men,
/ bers 10 order what the wish. The law
/ gives toe ID lh- money. anu they can do
/ what they please with il. But resume
/ OF TIE report Is always interesting. For
| instance, carly n the session TWO barrels
/ Of soap were ordered tor the use OF the
! House OF Representatives, ana during
/ one month OF the spring 20 250 pounds OF
/ ice was used. TO glance over the wash
/ bills for towels, it would seem Gs If the
4 members never washed anywhere but at
+ the House of Representatives. One
/ washer woman alOne-there are Eum Der
! employed-ls paid tor 2755 dozen
! towels for one MONTH. one
/ Of The Congressional funerals cost
/ $.,l40 %, and samples al eX.
! lenses allowed are rs follows: one din
/ ner on return trip, SO; one supper, 50 %;
/ porter, $40; lunch for committee on day
/ 0 funeral. $31 %. But, 70 turn from sucn
! solemn items to the reading matter Sc
/ l,cted by Congressman out Of their $l25.
| Members have not confined themselves
! strictly to newspapers and stationery, out
! have embraced tueir prINlje-e TO Order
| ANY thing" One member bUu Lnt an en-
| brOldered shawl strap; several Of them or
dered progressive eucGre seTs. A large
number OF manicure sells were purchased,
| while there were dozens OF "reticules,'
| fruit knives, a lot OF taus-one set costing
! S46I. French clocks COSTING from $l4 to
| $50, together with ''orE2ments," are also
| down in the list. Members gave
away a large number OF engraved
/ visiting card plates and cards, and
/ nc end of knives. There is one
! page of the report devoted to opera
glasses bought, some of them as high as
/ $l9S. One item, which looks suspicious.
! is three toilet vines" What KIND is
that; 1t must be confessed a large num-
/ Der of standard and use vi books were
ordered-standard works on the various
questions before Congress; but. still. one
! 4 an. nj Iar In
while Robinson Crusoe's money seems TO
| have been faVOrite. one OF the men,
Oers ordered Three NSssaT GIls"-that
s, a book by that name, and soon after
. some more were ordered. Only one
"Huckleoerry Finn" was purchased: but
the members dealt Literally IN Easter
cards. Probably one OF the funeral com.
mlJtee on his return ordered the sole ny
bought OF beyond the Gates" There
were no less than four copies of VI IS
Cleveland's book on George Eiops poems
purchased Tor COngrt ssmen, while Nv II
Of Womeu' found many buyers. Proba-
/ bly, some lOVe.sicE Congressman bought
tue copy or L nder the Lilacs.' purchased
Nov. 10. 1t is said a dONn-sast member
bought one copy OF "Wild Western
Scenes" One copy OF "SileDt South" was
purchased by a Republican member,
while everybody wants TO know wh0 pur-
chased Little Doings Of Some Little
Folks" Little Chicks Daily Tricks"
and Ring Round Rosey." rhey were
actually bought, and each cos s. 50.
some one bought "Eve's Daughters" and
Progress and Poverty "lulant PHI
losophy'' and hymn of the Ages" were
selected by some members. and so was
I Yesterday, To-Day and Forever" PIOo-
ably the last was bought 0y Il member
" no wanted to lie reelected.
The District OF Columbia. War Claims
and the Military Affairs Committees used
the most soap IN their rooms. Tue Com
miJtee on Labor did not Use single cake.
The Alcoholic Liquor Trade Committee
ordered but one thing from lie sior- room,
and that was broom. The Labor Com
mittee only ordered u boxes OF matches.
The Maryland memb r. accounts stood
as follows at the end Of the season: Mt
l.. f.. McCOmas ordered so o. worth Of
stationery, and received $40 33 in cash
The late DR.. Cole get 500 - in stationery
and mad S95 10 in cash to ais credit. MIR
Fiudlay ordered S24 26 worth of station
cry. and got 500 "A in cash. DR.. shaw or
dered $32 - IN stationery. and got S9l 4
in cash. MIR. Compton got $45 - in sta
tionery, and $19 10 in cash. Dir. Gibson
S14 - in stationery. and $50 Is to MI
credit,
ROMANCE OF \ BABY.